Storage of signals



July 3, 1962 G. DIRKs 3,042,906

SSSSSSSSSSSSS LS July 3, 1962 Filed April 16, 1958 G. DIRKS STORAGE OF SIGNALS 7 Sheets-Sheet I5 July 3, 1962 G. DIRKS 3,042,906

STORAGE OF SIGNALS Filed April 16. 1958 'T Sheets-Sheet 4 F/6`.5 BY

July 3, 1962 G. DIRKS 3,042,906

STORAGE OF SIGNALS Filed April 16, 1958 7 Sheets-Shea?l 5 INVENTOR. 6 ffl/afd bf/'k1' July 3, 1962 G. DIRKS 3,042,906

STORAGE OF SIGNALS Filed April 16. 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 3,042,966 STRAGE F SIGNALS Gerhard Dirks, 44 Moi-felder Landstrasse, Franknrt am Main, Germany Filed Apr. 16, 1958, Ser. No. '728,812 Claims. (Ci. 34N-174.1)

This invention relates to the selective storage of signals `and to pulse generating apparatus -for use with signal storages.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of my copending patent application Serial No. 645,824, filed March 13, 1957, entitled Storage of Signals, now abandoned.

It is frequently necessary to generate individual pulses and pulse trains for control purposes when using signal storages with a plurality of signal storage locations. Such storages may take the form of magnetic drums, discs or tapes, for example. Various forms of storage are described. in my British Patent No. 786,021 and my copending U.S. patent applications Nos. 498,047 and 498,- O48, both filed March 30, 1950. These pulses are normally generated in synchronism with the movement of the storage locations past a sensing and/ or recording device and may be used for controlling sensing, recording and switching.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved pulse generating arrangement for use witha signal storage.

It is another object of the invention lto provide a pulse generating arrangement utilizing a plurality of pulse generating elements the spacing of which is greater than the spacing of the signal storage locations for which they provide control pulses.

it is a further object of the invention to utilize such improved pulse generator for controlling recording of signals in the storage under control of a keyboard, or the like.

According to one feature of the invention a pulse generator, for use with a signal storage device, comprises a number of pulse generator elements equally spaced over a fixed distance, a different number of sensing devices for the elements equally spaced over the same distance, and means adapted to produce relative movement between the pulse generator elements and the sensing devices in a direction such that each element is sensed sequentially by each sensing device to generate a pulse. Y

According to a further feature of the invention a pulse generator, for use with a signal storage device, comprises a plurality of sensing devices lying in the same plane'and being equally spaced over a predetermined distance, and a member carrying a plurality of equally spaced pulse generator elements and movable parallel to said plane to cause an element to generate a pulse in each sensing device in sequential order, an exact number of elements being contained Within said predetermined distance, which number is different from the number of sensing devices arranged Within the same distance.

According to another `feature of the invention signal storage apparatus comprises a movable signal storage member with a plurality of signal storage locations equally spaced apart in the direction of movement, a plurality of equally spaced pulse generating elements, a plurality of equally spaced sensing devices for said elements and means adapted to produce relative movement between said elements and said sensing devices equal to the movement of the storage member, the spacing between adjacent elements and between adjacent sensing devices being different and being so related that `an element is sensed for each movement of the storage device over a distance equal to the distance between adjacent storage locations.

nited Statesl Patent O M 3,042,906 Patented lFully 3, 1962 The invention will now be described, by Way of example, With reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: t

FIGURE 1 is a block schematic diagram of one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 illustrates the relationship between the signal tracks shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a block schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 4 illustrates the relationship of the signal tracks shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a block schematic diagram of a third embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 6 illustrates the relationship of the signal tracks shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURES 7 to l0 are schematic diagrams of circuits shown in block `form in FIGURES l, 3 and 5.

All the embodiments shown in the drawings employ a magnetic drum signal storage device, into which numbers may be entered under control of'a keyboard. The drum is divided into a plurality of storage tracks, each of which stores one multi-order number. Each track is divided into a plurality of storage areas, each of which corresponds to an order position and stores one digit located at the respective orderl position. 'In some cases one or more storage areas may belleft blank to provide time for switching operations, such as track selection. Each storage area is again subdivided into a plurality'of signal storage locations, in each of which a pulse may be recorded. A particular digit is represented by a number of pulses equal to the value of the digit, the pulses being recorded in the storage locations of the storage area associated with the order position of the digit.

Digits are recorded on the magnetic drum under control of a keyboard. Various control pulses are required for recording the pulses in the storage locations, selecting the storage area in which recording is to take place, etc. These pulses are generated by individual pulse generating elements which are driven in synchronism with the drum. These elements may be magnetically recorded signals, sections of magnetized material, photo-electrically sensible marks, etc.

l The storage locations Within the storage areas of a storage track may be relatively closely spaced and it may not be convenient, or practical, to provide pulse generating elements at the same spacing, particularly if these consist of magnetic inserts in a non-magnetic surface, for example. In the various forms of pulse generator shown in the drawings, a plurality of pulse generating elements are associated with a plurality of sensing devices, thev relative 'spacing of the elements and the sensing devices being such that a pulse is generated for each signal storage location. This is achieved with a spacing between the elements which is considerably greaterthan the spacing between storage locations, vfor example, of the order of ten times greater.

The embodiment shown in FIGURE l employs a magnetic drum storage device which is mounted on a shaft 3a which is driven by a motor 3b. A pulse generating device 2 is also mounted on the shaft 3a. A part of one storage track of the magnetic storage drum is shown in developed form at 1. The track 1 is divided into a plurality of storage areas 7'/ 1 to 7/.11 of equal length. Each storage area is allocated to the recording of signals representing one digit and to one order position of a multi-order number.

In a similar way two tracks of the pulse generating device are shown in developed form at 3. One of the tracks contains a single pulse generating element in the form of -a recorded signal 14 and the other track contains eleven pulse generating elements in the form of recorded signals Y of magnetized material beingY inserted in the slots.

12/,1 to Y12/r1. nach digit recorded in the dan track 1 Y Y digit 6 in the ninth order is represented by six pulses 8/1 recorded in the storage area 7/,10. Y

The element i4 is sensed by magnetic sensing heads 4/1 to i/ll and the resultingr signals are used to determine in which storage area of track l recording takes place, under control of stepping switch 9, itl The elements V12/1 toV 12/ ii are sensed by magnetic sensing heads /1V to S/l, 'and the resulting-signals are used to control recording o' 'the digit Value representing signals 8 within each storage area.y lt will be apparent from FIGURE l that the signals S are'rathervclosely spaced compared with the elements 1.2/1 to 12/ l1 which control their recording. The heads S/l to S/l@ are equally spaced at a distance equal to t. V.The elements 1271 to 12/11 are also equally spaced, but are separated by a smaller' distance which is equal to t-At, where At in the present embodiment is equaly to t divided by ll.

. With the pulse generator 2 rotating in arrow direction 13, the element 12/1 Will be sensed by the head 5/1, and shortly thereafter the'element 12/2 will be sensed by the head 5/2, and so on, sothat when the surface of the pulse generator 2 has moveda distance equal to t each of the heads 5/2 to S/it will have sensed an element 12. The output signals from the heads, except the head S/i, are red in common to a lead 50 through isolating diodes 49/2 to t9/10, hence nine pulses will appear on the lead Se during the movement of the surface of the pulse generator?, through a distance equalto t. f

The relative angular positions of the differentstorage areas in the track l and the recorded signals in the two tracks 3 together with the associated sensing heads is diagrammatically illustrated in FIGURE 2. Y These kvarious positions'are indicated by marks withinrconcentric rings. The marks Within the rings` 15, 16, 1,7, 18 and i9 indicate, respectively, the heads 5, the elements 12,

the element i4, the heads 4 and the storage areas 7..

it will be seen that the angle subterxded by a storage `rea 7 Yis equal to that subtended Vby the spacings between adjacent elements l2 and by the spacings between adjacent heads 4. On the other hand, a largerV angle is subtended by the spacings between adjacent'heads 5, since there are only ten heads within the ring as compared with eleven storage areas7 in ring i9. It will be apparent from FIGURE 2 that, whenY one of the storageareas passes anassociatcd recording head 2t?, each of the elements l2 will pass the associated one of the heads 5.' The arrangement ofV adjacentv sensing heads 5 at a distance r apart, whereas adjacent elements l2l are a kdis-` tance f At apart, allows the elements Y'l2' to be spaced j approximately ten times ascfar apart as the distance between adjacent storage locations in which are recorded the one or more of the individual signals 8. Since the spacing between thef signals 12is relativelylarge the pulse generator. 2- may,in fact, consist of a drum of nonmagnetic'material Vwhich is slotted at positions corresponding to the positions of the elements 12,' small strips Such an arrangement provides a signal output from the sensing heads 5 which is quite strong as compared with that produced by va signal recorded on the normal magnetic oxide layer, which is conventionally used on magnetic storage drums. Alternatively, the elements 12 may be in the form of black marks on a white background, or

metallized areas on a non-conducting surface, the heads `5 being'replaced by photo-electric cells or metal pick-up plates which detect the change in the light reflecting properties or the capacity, respectively, between said metalareas and plates as the pulse generator drurnZ rotates.

l Hence the capacitor is charged.

The digits to be recorded in the storage areas 7 are set up one at a time on a keyboard 6, which has ten keys 121'/ l Vto llc/ti. Each key controls a pair of contacts 35 413. In the rest position of the keys, a capacitor 36 is connected from positive supply 39 through the chain of contacts 35 in the a position,'a lead 37 and the winding of a relay 38 to negative supply di. it will be assumed that the units digit 6 is to be entered by depressing the key /d. The contact 35/6 in the b position will then conneet the capacitor 36 across a resistor'Z, through which the. capacitor will discharge.

it; on. YThe sensing head 4/1 is connected via lead 2, the switch arm 9, lead 22, amplier 23 and lead 24 to the input yof the gate 25. Hence, when the head .4/1 senses the clement ,14, after the gate 25 has been opened by the depression of the key lit/6, a signal is passed by the gate 25 to switch on a control gate 34.

The sensing head 5/4 is connected through lead 54/6, the then closed contact 43/6 and leaded to the input of an amplier 45. The output of the amplifier 45 is connected, via lead 46, to the input of the gate 34. When the head :F5/4 senses one of the elements 12, after the gate 34 has been opened in the manner described, a

pulse is fed through the gate 34, via lead 47to switch on the gate 33. -The gate 33 receives an input from an amplifier Si, which is fed by the lead Si?, which receives pulses from the sensing heads S/Z to'S/il.' Hence the gate 33 will pass the pulses generated by the heads 5/5 to S/ltl, that is six pulses, and these pulses will be passed, via lead 52 and an amplifier 53, to therecording head 2@ associated with the storage track l. The heads 5 generate signals sequentially, in the order 5/1 to S/lltl. The signals from they heads 5/1 to 5/4 will be applied to the gate 33, through amplier Si but they will not be passed by the gate, which is closed until the signal from the f head 5/4 isV applied toit through the gate 34.

lt will be apparent fromY FIGURE 2,'that tbe head' l/i` senses the element 14 at the same time as the beginning of the storage area '7/1V is passing `the recording headZd. Hence theY six pulses passed by the gate 33 to the recording head 2t) will causej recording of six signals 8 in the storage locations ofthe storage area Thus, the rst input digit has been priate storage area. ,Y c

Since the heads 4/1 and 4/2 are spaced apart by a distance equal to thelength of a storage area, the element i4 will be sensed by the head 4/2 after recording of the signals 3/n in the storage area 7/1 has been completed. This produces a signal which is fed via lead 23,switch arm l@ and lead 29 to an amplifier 3d. The ampliiier produces an output pulse on lead 55 which is applied via leads 27, 31 and-*32 to the gates 25, 33 and 3d respectively to switch these gates ofi?.

When the key Y11i/e5 is released, the contact 35/6 returns to then position and completes Vthe series circuit for charging the capacitor V36, which was discharged when the key ill/6 was depressed. This charging current passes throughV the winding of the relay 38. Energization of the relay 38v operates the arms 9 and it? of the stepping switch to srift each of them in the direction of arrow 56 by one step. i

The next time that one of the keys 11 is depressed, the sensing head z-/Z will be made operative by the position of the switching arm 9 to switch, onthe gate 25, and the sensing head 4/3 will be operative throughl the switching arm 19 to switch od the gates 25, V33 and 3d on completion of the recording of the digit represented by the depressed key. .Since recording is initiated by the sensing of the element 14 Lby the sensing head 4/2, the recording of the digit value will take place in the storage area 7/2.

A second embodiment is shown in FiGURE`3. rlhis differs primarily fromk the embodiment shown in FIG- This produces a pulse on va lead 26, which is applied to a control gate 25 to switch recorded in the appro- URE 1 in that a counter 63 is used to control the selection of the storage area in which recording is to take place, instead of the heads 4/1 to J-/11 and the stepping switch 9, 1t) of FIGURE 1.

The magnetic storage drum and pulse generator are mounted on a shaft 60 which is driven by a motor 61. A development of one track of the storage drum is shown at 59. This track is divided into storage areas `62/1 to 62/11. The storage areas 62/1 to 62/10 are utilized for the recording of digit values in the same manner as the storage areas 7 of FIGURE 1. The storage area 62/ 11 is always left blank, so that during the period when this storage area is passing beneath an associated recording head 98, various switching and control lfunctions may be performed. p

One track of the pulse generator is shown developed at 57. rThis track contains pulse generator elements 64/1 to 64/ 11, which are sensed by associated heads 65/1 to 65/16. These elements and heads correspond to the elements 12/1 to 12/11 and to the heads `5/1 to 5710 of FIGURE l. The elements 64 are also sensed fby a sensing head 66 which operates an amplifier 83. The relative positions of the various recorded signals and the related magnetic heads is shown in FIGURE 4, using the same conventions as in FIGURE 2. The marks within the rings 69, 79, 71, 72, 73 and 74 correspond respectively to the heads 65, the elements 64', the head 66, a head 68, an element 67 and storage areas 62.

The recording of digit values in the track 59 is controlled by a keyboard 56 which has ten keys 75/1 to 75/6. Each key controls a pair of contacts 76 and 39. It will be assumed that the units digit ve is to be recorded in the track 59, so that the key 7S/5 is depressed. The contact 76/5 closes and provides a circuit from positive source 77, via lead 78, to a control "gate 79, which is thereby switched on.

Another track 5S on the magnetic drum has a single element 67, which is equivalent to the element 14 `of FIGURE 1. This element 67 is sensed by a head 68, which feeds an amplifier 80. The `output of the amplier 89 is fed to the gate' 79. Hence, the first time that the element 67 is sensed after the gate has been opened by depression of the key 75/5, the gate 79 will pass a signal over lead 81 to switch on a control gate 32.

As will 'be seen from FIGURE 4, the head '68 sensed the element 67 just prior to the sensing of the element 64/1 by the head 66. Therefore, the signals produced by the sensing of the element 64/1, and subsequent elements, by the head 66 will be fed through the amplifier 83, the gate S2, ampliher 136 and lead 84 to the decade counter 63. When ten of these pulses have been fed to the counter 63, a carry pulse will be produced on lead 85'. The `carry pulse is fed via lead 86 to switch on a control gate 87.

The gate 87 controls the generation of the correct number of digit pulses in accordance with the particular key of the keyboard 56 which was depressed, so that it corresponds to the gate 34 of FIGURE l. Pulses generated by the sensing head 65/5 are fed to the gate S7, as long as the key 75/5 is depressed, by a circuit through the contact 89/5, lead 90 and amplier 91. The next pulse generated by the head 65/5 after the gate S7 has been opened by a carry pulse from the counter 63 will pass through the gate 87 and, via lead 92, to control gate 93, which will be switched on by this pulse. The pulse is also fed back to the control gate S7 to switch it oi. The sensing heads 65/2 to 65/10 are `connected in common to `lead 95, via isolating diodes 94/2 to 94/ 10. The lead 95 is connected to the input of an amplier 96 which feeds the input of the control gate 93. Hence the gate 93 corresponds to the gate 33 of FIG- URE 1. Since the Agate 93 was switched on by a pulse from the sensing head 65/5, the ygate will pass the following pulses from the heads 65/ 6 to 65/10, so that live pulses will be fed via amplier 97 to the recording head 9S. Shortly after this, one of the elements 64 is sensed by the head 66 and the resulting output from the amplifier 83 is fed, via lead 99, to the gate 93 to switch it off, so preventing any further recording.

It will be seen from FIGURE 4 that the carry pulse from the counter 63, resulting from ten pulses from the head 66, isproduced at the same time as the beginning of storage area 62./1 is passing the recording head 98, hence the tive pulses passed by the `gate 93 will be recorded in the sector 62/ 1, and the pulse on the lead 99 Williterminate the recording at the end lof this storage area. The gate 93 cannot be switched on again during this revolution because the `gate 87 was switched off.

The carry pulse on lead 8S is also applied to a gate 85a to switch it on. The next time that a pulse is produced by the amplifier in response to the sensing of the element 67, this pulse is passed by the gate 85a which is now open and is applied to the gate 82 to switch it off. Hence the gate `S2 is opened for one revolution of the storage drum each time a key 75 is depressed. The same pulse is also -fed back via a lead 86a to the gate 85a to switch it oif. The pulse which passes through the gate a does not pass through 'the gate 79 since this has already )been switched off by a pulse, applied to it over lead 100, Which resulted from the switching on `of the gate 82 by the pulse passed by the gate 79.

It will be seen from FIGURE 4 that the elements 64 and the related heads 65 are staggered in a similar way to that employed in the pulse generator `of FIGURE 1. The element 67 may be in a track on the pulse generator, rather than on the storage drum, if desired.

Each time the gate 82 is opened for one revolutionV in response to the depression of one of the keys 75, eleven pulses are fed to the counter 63. Since this is a decade counter, after the first digit has been entered the counter will be left registering unity and, the next time a key 75 is depressed, the carry pulse from the `counter will occur one pulse time earlier. The carry pulse will therefore open the gate 93 `when the storage area `62/2 is about to pass the head 98.

The counter 63 will be registering two after the recording of the second digit, so that the digit represented by the third key depression will be recorded in area 62/3, and so on for the successive key depressions.

A third embodiment is shown in FIGURE 5. vDigits are entered one at a time by means of a keyboard 136, with keys 137/1 to 137/0. A stepping switch 15S controls the selection `of the sector in which a particular digit is to be recorded in a manner generally similar to that described in connection with'FIGURE 1. However, the control of the number `of pulses to be recorded in the storage track under control of a set key is obtained by means of a counter 167.

FIGURE 6 illustrates diagrammatically, in a manner exactly corresponding to FIGURES 2 and 4, the relative positions of the heads 144, 162, storage areas 145, and elements 139, 140 in rings 163-166.

The data is recorded on a magnetic drum storage device which is secured to a shaft 142 which is driven by a motor 143. One track is shown in developed form at 141. It is divided into eleven storage areas 145/1 to 145/11. A pulse generator which is mounted on the same shaft as the magnetic drum has a single track only, which is shown in developed from at 138. The track contains elements 139/1 to 139/ 10 which correspond to the elements 12/1 to 12/ 11 of FIGURE l. The track 13S discharge to locate itself on this cathode.

aos-2,

Y of contacts V146/1 to 1146/0V inthe a position, and a relay Y 159/11y are so poled that they pass only positive pulses from the heads 144 to the amplifier 161. The heads 144 are also connected through diodes 154/1 to 154/11 to the individual contacts of the stepping switch 155. The diodes 154 are so poled that they pass only negative pulses from the heads 144. The elements 139 and 140 are such that they produce positive and negative pulses, respectively,v in the heads 144. Preferablyrthe elements comprisemagc netized inserts in a non-magnetic drum. The part of the inserts 139 which cooperates with the heads 144 is of one magnetic polarity and the corresponding part of the insert 146 is of the opposite magnetic polarity.

1 When the units digit is to be recorded, the stepping switch 155 is'in the position shown. This allows the signals induced in the head 144/1 by the element 140 to be fed through diode 154/1, the switch 155, amplifier 156 to gate 153. -One of these signals will be fed via a lead 157, to switch on a gate 158, after the gate 153 has been opened by the pulse on the line 152 produced by depression of the key 137/ 6.

The positive signals produced in the heads 144/1 to 144/11 by the elements 139 are fed via the diodes 159,

lead 160 and amplier 161 to the input of the gate 158. These signals are passed by the gate 158, after it. has been switched on by the signal from the gate 153, and

are fed via an amplilier 174 and lead 175 to the input of a decade counter V167. The counter 167 comprises a multi-cathode gas-filled discharge tube, the cathodes of Vwhich representing the value 9 to 1, are connected through leads 166/1 to 166/9 respectively, to the b terminal of contacts 163/1 tol 163/9, which are operated by the keys 137.

tor 165,1contactsV136/6, and lead 166/6 to the 4 value cathode of the counting tube. The'leads 166 are each connected to the cathode of complementary value, that is the lead 166/1 is connected to the 9 Value cathode and the lead 166/9 to the l value cathode, and so on.

The circuit completed by the contact 163/6 applies a negative pulse to the 4 value cathode, which causes the When the gate 158 is switched on, thev output pulses from it step the discharge in the counting tube 167V from the "4 value cathode to the 5 value cathode, the 6 value cathode, etc., in succession. The same pulses are also appliedV to the Y The depression of the key 137/6 com-p .pletes acircuit from negative supply 164, through capaci- The output pulse from the gate 153 which switches on the gate 158 is also `fed, back to the gate 153 via lead 173 to switch this latter gate on. Thus, after the key 137/6 has been released the circuit is ready to record the next input digit, which will be recorded in the storage area 145/2 since the stepping switch 155 has been input of'a gate 168 which was switched on when'the Y The ,Of value cathode of theV counting tube 167 isY connected via lead 179 to the gate 158. The discharge will' be stepped on to this cathode by the sixth pulse passed by the gate 158. The pulse produced on the lead v179 by the discharge reaching the 0 value cathode Vswitches ol the gate 158, and prevents further pulses being applied either to the counting tube 167 or to the gate 168.

When the key 137/6 is released, the relay coil 149 is energized by the charging current of the capacitor 148 through contacts 146/1 to 146/0 and the arm of the stepping'switch 155 is shifted to the next contact. The gate 158 is switched ol bythe carry pulse from the counting tube 167 which is applied to it over lead 179.

moved to the next contact position.

The contact 163/6 is connected to a positive source 169. When the rcontact is shifted to the b position by ydepression of the key 137/0, a positive pulse is applied to the stage 168 over lead 178, which prevents the gate being operated by the pulse on the lead 152. Hence no pulses are recorded in the particular sector selected by the stepping switch when the key V137/1) is depressed.

The arrangements shown in the diierent embodiments maybe combined vin other ways. For example, the counter control of the digit recording shown in FIGURE 5 may be combined with the counter control of storage area selection shown in FIGURE 3. Furthermore, the storage tracks and the pulse generator tracks may be on a disc or a loop of tape, orpexample. A long tape not in the formV of a loop, mayalso be used, in which case ,tracks 1 and 3 of FIGURE 1 for example, would represent a section of the'tapewhich stores onenumber, and the same arrangementof storage areasKV and pulse generator elements would be repeated along the tape to provide storage for other numbers. The heads for sensing the pulse generator elements, and for recording in the storage areas, may be moved during each recording operation, instead of moving the drum, tape, etc. Y

It will be apparent that the keyboard controlled contacts for digit input may be replaced by relay controlled contacts, electronic gates and similar lswitching devices.

FIGURES 7 to l0 are schematic circuit diagrams of various circuits shown in block form in FIGURES l, 3

and 5. FIGURE 7 shows an amplifier such as the amof this section is coupled to the grid of the right-handV section through a capacitor 106, and theramplied output signal is taken from the anode of the right-hand section via a capacitor 197 and a lead 108.

FIGURE 8 shows the circuit of the control gate 82 of FIGURE 3. The signals from the gate 79 are `applied over lead'l and capacitor 119 to one grid of a bistable ip-lop formed by the double triode 109 and the associated resistors. Such signals cause the left-hand triode to be conductive. There is a then relatively small voltage drop across resistors 113 .and 1,14, so that the anode Vof the right-hand triode is near to ground potential. 'Ilhis anode is connected through a resistor 112 to the grid of atriode 111i. Signals applied to the grid of the triode 110 over lead 115 cause the triode to conduct and produce an output signal on lead 1,18 via capacitor 117. 'On theiother hand, a signal :applied over lead 81aV to the right-hand half of the ip-flop 109 causes this half to conduct. The large voltage drop across the resistors 113 and 114 which results biases the triode 110 so that it is no longer responsive to pulses on the line 115. The anode of the left-hand half of the hip-flop is also connected through la capacitor and a diode to the line so that a pulsev appears on this line whenthe flipiop is switched from one state to the other.

FIGURE 9 shows the circuit'of the recording amplifier 97 of FIGURE 3. rIhe recording head 98 is connected as the cathode load of a triode 124. Input signals are `applied to the grid of the triode over a lead `126 and capacitor 127. The triode is normally held nonconduct ing by 4bias applied to the grid through resistor 125 andV in FIGURE 10. It employs a multi-cathode gas-filled discharge counting tube, such as that sold under the commercial reference designation EIT. Cathodes 129/1 to 129/9 are connected directly to ground. The cathode 129/0 is connected through a load resistor 130 to ground. A capacitor 132 couples the cathode 129/0 to the output line 85. The discharge is stepped along the cathodes 129 under the control of guide electrodes 134 and 135 which receive input driving pulses from the lead 84, Via ya coupling capacitor 133. The counter 167 shown in FIG- URE is similar to that shown in FIGURE 10 except that each of the cathodes 129/1 to 129/9 is connected to ground through an individual cathode resistor and the leads 166/1 to 166/ 9 are connected directly to the cathodes.

It will be appreciated that the amplifiers and gates employed in the other embodiments are generally similar to those described in detail above.

I claim:

l. In a signal storage apparatus, in combination, signal storage means carrying -at least one signal storage track for recording signals thereon, a given length of said track being divided longitudinally into a predetermined number of signal storage areas of substantially equal unit length, each area being capable of Vaccommodating -a predetermined number of consecutive signal elements; recording means -associated with said track for recording said signal elements thereon `depending upon application lof corresponding pulses to said recording means; pulse generator means including a track member carrying consecutively along a track a plurality of equally spaced pulse generating elements, and a plurality of sensing means equally spaced from each other consecutively along said track member and capable of delivering a pulse whenever a sensing means and a pulsegenerating element are moved past one yanother across a pulse-generating position, said plurality of sensi-ng means including a number thereof equal to said predetermined number of signal elements that can be accommodated in one of said sign-al storage areas, the number and spacing of said pulsegenerating elements differing from the number and spacing of said sensing means in la Vernier-like manner so that during the time period required for one of said pulsegenerating elements to change from a pulse-generating position relative to one of said sensing means to another pulse-generating position relative to the next consecutive sensing means the other pulse-generating elements assume consecutively pulse-generating positions relative to the other sensing means, respectively, so as to cause during said time period the generation of a sequence of pulses corresponding to said predetermined number of signal elements; means for moving said recording means relative to said signal storage means in direction of said track thereof, and for moving in synchronisrn therewith said track member relative to said sensing means in such a manner that said time period substantially coincides with the time required for one of said storage areas to be moved a distance corresponding to said unit length thereor" relative to said recording means; circuit means for transmitting said pulses from said sensing means to said recording means; control means for selectively controlling the transmission to said recording means of a desired number of pulses out of said sequence thereof generated during any one of said time periods; and means for allocating the recording of said pulses transmitted during consecutive time periods to consecutive selected signal storage areas, respectively. Y

2. A signal storage apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said signal storage track has at least a magnetizable surface and said recording means is an electromagnetic recording head for magnetically recording said signal elements on said track, and wherein said pulsegenerating elements are permanently magnetized members and said sensing means are electromagnetic pick-up heads.

3. A signal storage apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electromagnetic recording head and said electromagnetic pick-up heads are stationarily mounted, :and wherein said signal storage means is a rotatably mounted cylindrical member, said given length of said track corresponding to its circumference, `and wherein said track member is a rotatable cylindrical member coupled with said iirst mentioned cylindrical member for rotation in synchronism With the latter.

4. A signal storage apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said means for, allocating the recording of said pulses to consecutive selected signal storage areas comprise at least one magnetic pulse-generating control element arranged on one of said cylindrical members in predetermined positional relation with respect to one of said signal storage areas, electromagnetic pick-up means ior sensing said pulse-generating control element, and distributing means responsive to pulses generated in said electromagnetic pick-up means by said pulse-generating control element and cooperating `with said circuit means for causing the recording of said pulses transmitted during consecutive time periods to consecutive selected signal storage areas, respectively.

5. A signal storage apparatus as claimed in claim 4, whereinv said control means include keyboard means comprising a plurality of key-operable switoh means in circuit with said plurality of sensing means for selectively placing any desired number of said sensing -means in circuit with said circuit means.

References Cited in the ille of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,590,091 Devel Mar. 25, 1952 2,611,813 Sharpless et al. Sept. 23, 1952 2,714,843 Hooven Aug. 9, 1955 2,797,402 Duifey et al June 25, 1957 2,827,623 Ainsworth Mar. 18, 1958 2,850,719 La Manna Sept. 2, 1958 2,850,720 Oliwa et al. Sept. 2, 1958 2,851,676 Woodcock et al. Sept. 9, 1958 

